What Color Is #042FAE?

When rendered, #042FAE appears as a deep blue shade. The R:4, G:47, B:174 breakdown shows a blue-dominant profile with deep depth. At 35% lightness, it sits in the lower half of the brightness range.

Color Meaning of #042FAE

Designers choose blue tones when their projects require trust, reliability, and professionalism. #042FAE inherits these qualities while its deep nature adds visual weight that commands attention and establishes hierarchy.

Where to Use HEX Code #042FAE

Onboarding flow illustrations and background washes that set a welcoming blue tone
Skeleton screen shimmer effects — subtle deep blue pulses feel natural during loading
Sidebar active-state indicators that help users orient within complex multi-panel layouts
Tag and chip components where blue backgrounds pair with contrasting text for quick scanning
Customer testimonial section accents that frame quotes with visual warmth
API documentation color swatches and code highlighting themes

Similar HEX Color Codes

#13209F
A closely related blue shade with subtle tonal variation
#004895
Similar hue with adjusted saturation for alternative design needs
#000C8B
Complementary blue tone for palette coordination
#0002DB
Nearby color value offering slightly different brightness
#3B00E5
Related purple option for creating harmonious color schemes
#45706D
Adjacent shade useful for gradient transitions
#007AF9
Comparable teal alternative with distinct character

HEX Code #042FAE in Design Systems

Design token strategy for #042FAE: assign it as color.blue.deep in your token hierarchy. From this base, compute tint/shade ramps programmatically using OKLCH (preferred for perceptual uniformity) or HSL adjustments. Export tokens to CSS, iOS, and Android through Style Dictionary or Tokens Studio.

Contrast data: perceived brightness 49/255 positions this color in the dark range where white text at 100% opacity meets WCAG AA. For non-text elements like icons and borders, a 3:1 contrast ratio against the background is the minimum standard.

FAQ About HEX Color Code #042FAE

What color is #042FAE?
#042FAE produces a deep blue tone. The RGB breakdown (4, 47, 174) shows how the three light channels combine to create this specific blue hue at 225° on the color wheel.
Is #042FAE a dark or light color?
#042FAE registers as a dark color at 49/255 perceived brightness. In practical terms, white (#FFFFFF) or very light text will provide the best readability.
What colors go well with #042FAE?
Complementary pairing (≈45° hue) creates energetic contrast with #042FAE. Split-complementary (±150°) adds variety with less tension. Monochromatic schemes — lighter and darker blue shades — are the safest harmonious option.
Can I use #042FAE for branding?
#042FAE can serve as a primary or secondary brand color. Before committing, verify it renders well in both RGB (screens) and CMYK (print), test it against competitor palettes for differentiation, and confirm it meets WCAG contrast requirements in all planned applications.
How do I convert #042FAE to other color formats?
Convert #042FAE to RGB(4, 47, 174) by splitting the hex into three pairs and converting each from base-16 to base-10. HSL(225°, 96%, 35%) is derived from the RGB values using the standard algorithm. Visit our HEX to HSL converter for additional formats.